Comedian and author Steven Dupin (a.k.a. Stevie D.) will discuss and sign copies of his memoir "The Trans Am Diaries: A Hillbilly's Road Trip from Stand Up Comedy to Cancer...and Back Again" at Book Soup in West Hollywood, California on Thursday, August 21.

Dupin spent years working as a comedian on the Sunset Strip and later produced the popular live-performance DVD "Rockstars of Comedy," starring Whitney Cummings (NBC's "Whitney"), Steve Byrne ("Sullivan & Son") and others. Currently, he is president of Blue Moon Media, a television production company, and is the host of "The Stevie D. Show" on ActorsEntertainment.com.

In his book, Dupin shares stories of growing up in a dysfunctional family in small-town Kentucky, struggling to make it in show business, and later surviving prostate cancer at an early age.

"I started writing the book while I was being treated for cancer," he explained. "I realized how my story might help other people who are dealing with any kind of difficult challenge. It's about staying positive and keeping your sense of humor, when things are bleak."

Publisher's Weekly described "The Trans Am Diaries" as "hilarious and poignant." Robert Hess, founder and president of the Prostate Awareness Cancer Project, wrote, "This is a book that fathers everywhere could (and should) give to their sons when they hit high school. It's a fun, coming-of-age story that's a joy to read and because it has embedded within it the messages that prostate cancer can come early and you can come out the other side and be fine."

"The Trans Am Diaries" takes readers back and forth through time, from Dupin's wild childhood adventures to more recent, tabloid-worthy encounters with celebrities including Tommy Lee, Eddie Van Halen, Chris Rock and others. Even the chapters dealing with Dupin's cancer diagnosis and treatment are mostly humorous, though occasionally somber.

"Cancer was the scariest thing of I have ever gone through, except for the time in high school when I got stabbed in the family jewels with a pencil," he said. "I feel very lucky to have survived, thanks to some great doctors and my amazing wife and kids. If my book inspires just one person, it will have been worth the effort."